UP" Mini Laser Scanning Camping Projector for iPhone 15,16/Android , Focus-free, 720p, 100" Projection Size, 34 ANSI, 4K Compatible, Auto Keystone, Low Power Consumption, USB-C DisplayPort

*Updated January 2025I have used this projector for 3 months now. There are a few unique features that drew me to a laser scanning projector like this one, but they inherently have their drawbacks. Some of those drawbacks were further amplified by design choices.Pros:-Silent - This is the main reason I wanted a projector of this type. Laser scanning projectors are virtually silent. Great for bedroom/night time casual projecting. I don't mean "quiet for a projector", I mean actually silent.-Focus free - Laser scanning projectors maintain focus even on uneven surfaces, which is great for projecting at an angle.Cons:-Lack of controls - there are no controls on this thing. If I want to turn it off, I have to unplug it. I can't change the auto rotate or keystone unless I plug in a phone and use the app. Using it as a display-only (like with an firetv or chromecast) results in no ability to control the projection.-Low brightness - portable laser scanning projectors have pretty low brightness since it's a low power laser going back and forth. Measured to around 20 lumens total. Requires total darkness to use.-"Laser speckle"/low resolution - laser speckling distorts the image, so even though it's 720P, the image is distorted further. Couple that with aggressive automatic keystone and it feels much lower than 720P.-Compatibility issues - I have a phone on the compatible devices list but it did not work when I plugged it in. Nor was the app available at the time of original purpose (pictured). Support advised me that I needed to use a specific display mode for the projection to use, which made media playback more difficult.Conclusion: Unless you need an absolutely silent projector and are only going to watch in pitch darkness, get another projector. But if those are things you need and can manage, there is no alternative. My only wish is that the projector settings were accessible without an app. And that there was a physical power switch.

The media could not be loaded. ... this thing is awesome, for what it is ...... it is not for large or bright projection situations, it is great for intimate or personal use, such as camping and snuggling up with a loved one for a mini movie night ...... when paired with a decent battery pack it doesn't drain a phone too quick and is a great little gadget ...

My review will focus on comparing this model to the previous one. The older-model AnyBeam had at least five significant issues:1. Only 720P.2. Not bright enough.3. Soft text.4. No USB-C.5. Occasional laser-speckle.These issues limit the AnyBeam to niche applications—namely highly portable short-throw laser projection of videos in relatively dark environments. And forget about business applications like Excel or PowerPoint or anything involving text; there's just not enough resolution. And for some reason, text is not as sharp as it is with optical DLP technology (all else being equal). Perhaps the algorithm they're using to downscale the source material to 720P is not optimized for text?—no idea, but it's noticeable. This perceived softness doesn't impact movies unless you're counting on subtitles.So what issues have been addressed with this new model? Well... one. This new model has DisplayPort-enabled USB-C, allowing for a clean one-cable setup—assuming your source device supports it. And this is critical because the HDMI port from the previous model was removed; there's a USB-C port and a tripod socket—that's it! The source device is leveraged—via an app—for sound and even projector settings. But where is this app for Android? Not on the Google Play Store...AnyBeam is not the OEM for the MEMS mirror module, so I can't fault them for not increasing the resolution. If Ultimems or MicroVision or some OEM produced an affordable 1080P module—AnyBeam would obviously use it. Still, it's the Y2K-era resolution and lack of lumens that undermine the AnyBeam's potential. 720P can be forgiven when it's integrated into a smart phone like the Blackview Max 1. But in a standalone unit—it's less compelling.AnyBeam should be commended for innovating where they reasonably could. The single-cable setup is an improvement for those who have devices that can make use of it. And those devices are certainly becoming more common, with Google finally unmuzzling DP Alt Mode capabilities on some of their Android-based products. AnyBeam should be faulted for not offering a user-configurable choice of downscaling algos to help improve the perceived softness of text.Overall, the AnyBeam shines as a small, light, rugged, portable, and unique short-throw projector best suited to camping or "field work" (hence the militarized aesthetic and marketing). It can be powered by the source device for hours, and can project on curved or uneven surfaces without impacting sharpness or viewing. The laser is only active when needed, so black levels are excellent. And all this without a noisy cooling fan. No optical projectors can do that.

It seems like the pioneers of laser scanning MEMS projectors moved toward the world of LiDAR instead of these displays. The classic Sony model was great and I was hoping that this would be a modern version. While it does some wonderful things like direct iPhone connectivity for use while camping, the visual quality is worse than the old Sony in terms of color fidelity. I am not sure if it’s simply an issue of settings or a difference in the number of lasers used to generate the color. The auto keystone is pretty impressive but tricky to setup.